SEAL combat veteran Brent Gleeson and wife Nicole, RSF residents, co-chaired SEAL Family Foundation’s seventh annual Families First Dinner Gala, held April 14 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Hundreds attended the event, which commenced with a cocktail reception and silent auction and continued with dinner and a program emceed by 10News anchor Steve Atkinson. Guests enjoyed performances by Navy Band Southwest and rock group Electric Mud. The SEAL Family Foundation (SFF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funds for special programs in direct support of the Naval Special Warfare families on a local, national and global scale.

The evening’s highlight was a heart-wrenchingly beautiful story told by a Navy SEAL and his wife. Exceptionally articulate speakers, they spoke about their daughter. Her birth in 2011 revitalized her dad’s life, shortly after his closest friend died in combat. Unfortunately, at age 4, their daughter was diagnosed with severe brain cancer. Aggressive radiation and chemotherapy beat the cancer, but seeing her suffering nearly killed her dad. Weakened by her treatments, she died last July. SFF’s financial and emotional support helped her family cope.